Best Online Real Estate Investing Platforms of 2025

Explore the best online real estate investing platforms of 2025. Learn how to invest in rental properties, commercial real estate, and REITs with low minimums, top features, and expert tips to build a diversified real estate portfolio easily.

Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links, meaning I earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Every product mentioned has been thoroughly researched and/or tested. Thank you for supporting this blog! Read more about our policy here.

If you are thinking of jumping into the world of online real estate investing. This article breaks down some of the most well-known platforms in the space today such as Fundrise and Arrived Homes. By the end of the article, you should have a better understanding of how they work, what they offer, and how you might be able to use them in your portfolio!

When we are talking about online real estate investing, I think there is sometimes some confusion about what that means. In the context of this article, I’m referring to using online platforms (think Robinhood or WeBull but for real estate) to invest in various types of real estate. This may include rentals, commercial real estate, or real estate investments trusts (REITSs). These platforms help create a much more streamlined process to participate in and manage those types of investments.

Benefits of Online Real Estate Investing

Online real estate investing has quite a few benefits that make it attractive for both new and experienced investors:

• More Accessibility: One of the best parts of online real estate investing using these platforms is lower minimum investment requirements. This democratizes real estate investing so more investors can participate who may not have the capital for traditional real estate investments. Not everyone has the ability to go out and buy a property singlehandedly.
• Diversification: The platforms are great for allowing investors to spread their capital across various properties / investments. This diversification can help reduce risks and increase potential returns. Furthermore, investing in real estate may help you better diversify your broader investment portfolio as well!
• Flexibility: These platforms give you more flexibility in terms of investment options and management. You can choose from different properties and investment strategies and tailor your investments to your financial goals and risk tolerance.
• Potential for Higher Returns: I also enjoy these platforms as an investment option because you will likely find potential deals that you wouldn’t have locally or that you couldn’t find on your own which could potentially drive higher returns. Plus, investing in different types of real estate like commercial properties or rental units can potentially give you multiple income streams and property appreciation.

Types of Online Real Estate Investing Platforms

There are many different types of platforms, each catering to different investors and investment strategies:

• Real Estate Crowdfunding Platforms: These platforms pool funds from multiple investors to finance real estate projects or properties. This collective approach allows individuals to invest in larger projects with smaller amounts of capital. Real estate crowdfunding platforms often provide detailed information about each project so you can make informed decisions.
• Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): REIT platforms allow individuals to invest in a diversified portfolio of properties. These platforms typically offer shares in REITs which own and manage income-producing real estate. Investing in REITs gives you a steady income stream through dividends and potential long-term property appreciation.
• Rental Property Platforms: These platforms focus on rental properties, giving you the opportunity to earn rental income and property appreciation. You can choose from various rental properties, single-family homes, multi-family units and vacation rentals depending on your investment strategy.
• Alternative Investment Platforms: These platforms offer access to alternative assets like private equity, venture capital and real estate debt. By investing in these alternative assets, you can diversify your portfolio beyond traditional real estate investments and potentially get higher returns and lower overall risk.

By knowing the different types of online real estate investing platforms, you can choose the ones that fit your financial goals and investment strategy.

Top Online Real Estate Crowdfunding Platforms

Today’s online real estate investing landscape has many platforms to choose from; each designed for different needs and preferences in mind. Real estate investing apps are notable for potentially lower fees, dividend payouts as well as easy accessibility for all types of investors. These are some of my top picks:

• Best Overall: Arrived
• Best for Non-Accredited Investors: Fundrise
• Best for Alternative Asset Classes: Yieldstreet
• Best for Short-Term Investments: Groundfloor
• Best for Accredited Investors: EquityMultiple

Arrived: Best Overall

Minimum Investment: $100

Learn more — Arrived

Arrived is an online platform that makes fractional real estate ownership accessible and transparent. Founded in 2019 by Ryan Frazier, Kenny Cason, and Alejandro Chouza, it has quickly gained traction and raised $37 million in funding, including backing from Jeff Bezos.

The platform handles all aspects of property management, from tenant placement to maintenance, and distributes rental income to investors as dividends.

Arrived has a variety of residential properties to choose from, including single-family homes, vacation rentals, and multi-family properties across more than 20 U.S. markets. Historical performance data as of April 2025 shows annualized rental income ranging from ~1.0% to 8.4%, with property appreciation rates varying by market.

Each property is structured as a series LLC, providing liability protection for investors while offering potentially more advantageous tax treatment. Recently, Arrived introduced the Single-Family Residential Fund and Private Credit Fund, both options offer opportunities to diversify your portfolio easier which makes it nice for investors who want to participate, but don’t want to individually select properties.

One drawback (which is similar with most of these platforms) is the relatively low liquidity of individual property investments, which typically require a 5 to 7-year commitment (and 5–15 years for vacation rentals). However, the newer fund options allow redemption requests after a six-month holding period. Furthermore, Arrived is expecting to offer a secondary market in the near future which would allow investors quarterly options to sell individual shares before their holding period ends.

Pros:

• $100 minimum investment.
• Great selection of residential properties.
• Professional property management (8% fee for long-term rentals, 15–25% for vacation rentals).
• SEC-regulated investments.
• Available to both accredited and non-accredited investors.

Cons:

• Limited liquidity for properties (varies by type of property / investment).
• Geographic concentration in certain markets.
• Fees can impact returns.
• Properties typically sell out fast due to high demand.

Fundrise: Best for Non-Accredited Investors

Minimum Investment: $10

Learn more — Fundrise

Fundrise is a popular online real estate investing platform that allows investors to start with as little as $10. Fundrise is one of the originators in this space and is known for its ease-of-use and transparent communication, making it a great option for both new and experienced investors.

Fundrise utilizes an eREIT (electronic Real Estate Investment Trust) structure, which provides investors with exposure to a diversified portfolio of properties rather than individual assets. This diversification helps reduce risk and allows investors to participate in real estate investing with smaller amounts of money. Furthermore, this setup makes it nice for investors who would prefer to pick an overall theme or investment objective rather than trying to individually pick properties. Over time, Fundrise has expanded its offerings to include private credit and venture capital investments through its Innovation Fund, which is again a nice addition to an already strong stable of investment offerings.

The platform offers multiple account levels based on investment amount, with increasing customization options at higher tiers. Investors can choose from Starter Portfolios or Core accounts focused on income or growth strategies. A nice addition here though is that investors with a desire to manually pick their investments can get more involved via the Fundrise Pro account subscription.

Fundrise has historically delivered solid returns, often outperforming many publicly traded REITs. Investors receive quarterly dividend distributions (pending the fund has earned a dividend within a specific quarter), providing a consistent income stream, and can track their investment performance through a dashboard. The platform also features an auto-invest option, allowing investors to automate recurring contributions. Again, another nice additional to streamline and automate your investment journey.

However, Fundrise has some limitations regarding liquidity. While quarterly redemption windows are available without penalties on most investments, early withdrawals from certain funds may incur fees. Additionally, during periods of market volatility, redemption requests might be limited or temporarily suspended. Based on what I found, the platform charges an asset management fee of 0.85% and an advisory fee of 0.15% for most investments, with higher fees for certain funds, such as 1.85% for the Innovation Fund. There is also a $125 annual fee for IRA accounts, which may be waived for larger investments.

Overall, Fundrise offers an accessible and diversified way to invest in real estate online, suitable for both accredited and non-accredited investors seeking potential passive income and property appreciation.

Pros:

• Incredibly low $10 minimum investment.
• Well-diversified eREIT structure.
• User-friendly platform with excellent educational resources.
• Available to non-accredited investors.
• Tax-advantaged account options (IRA).
• Multiple investment strategies to match your goals.
• Access to venture capital and private credit investments.

Cons:

• Limited liquidity compared to publicly traded REITs.
• Early redemption fees may apply to certain investments.
• Additional fees for IRA accounts ($125 annually unless waived).
• Higher 1.85% fee for the Innovation Fund.

Yieldstreet: Best for Alternative Asset Classes

Minimum Investment: Varies by investment ($10,000 for most offerings)

Learn more — Yieldstreet

Yieldstreet is a platform offering access to alternative investments beyond traditional real estate. Founded in 2015, it has facilitated over $4.9 billion in investments, returning $3.8 billion to investors (as of March 31, 2025). The platform provides opportunities in private credit, art finance, transportation, venture capital, and short-term notes, allowing for diversified portfolios.

Its real estate focus includes multi-family apartment renovations, commercial bridge loans, and development projects, often targeting higher returns of 8–15% with higher risk. Yieldstreet maintains a rigorous due diligence process and based on metrics I could find they only accept about 9% of submissions.

For non-accredited investors, the Alternative Income Fund, launched in 2020, invests across multiple asset classes including real estate and private credit, with a $10,000 minimum and quarterly distributions.

While primarily serving accredited investors, some funds are accessible to non-accredited investors. Minimum investments typically range from $10,000 to $15,000 with terms from 6 months to 5 years depending on the offering.

Pros:

• Access to alternative investments beyond just real estate.
• Higher target returns than many competitors (8–15% on average).
• Quarterly distributions from the Alternative Income Fund.
• Strong historical performance (7.4% average annualized return excluding short-term notes).
• Self-directed IRA options available.

Cons:

• Higher minimums for most investments ($10,000+).
• Many offerings limited to accredited investors.
• More complex investment structures require deeper understanding.
• Limited availability of investments (opportunities fill up quickly).
• Management fees range from 1–4% depending on the investment.
• Highly illiquid investments with terms up to 5 years.

Groundfloor: Best for Short-Term Investments

Minimum Investment: $100

Learn more — Groundfloor

Groundfloor is ideal for investors seeking short-term real estate debt investments, with terms from 30 days to 36 months, offering flexibility compared to typical 5+ year commitments. Instead of equity, investors act as lenders for residential projects like fix-and-flips and renovations, receiving interest payments through Limited Recourse Obligations (LROs) backed by real estate.

My primary interest with Groundfloor is actually their Flywheel Portfolio which diversifies investments across 200–400 loans. Target returns of ~10%, Groundfloor charges no fees to investors, generating revenue specifically from borrower fees.

The Flywheel Portfolio carries a 0.50% to 1.0% quarterly asset management fee but still maintains strong returns. Transparency and a first-lien position on properties provide added security and detailed performance reporting.

Pros:

• Short investment terms (as little as 30 days with weekly repayments).
• Strong historical returns (10% average annualized).
• Available to both accredited and non-accredited investors.
• Low $100 minimum investment.
• Easily diversify across hundreds of loans with the Flywheel portfolio.
• No investor fees (except 0.25% quarterly for Flywheel Portfolio).
• Loans secured by real estate as collateral.
• Transparent reporting and performance data.

Cons:

• Limited to debt investments (no equity upside from property appreciation).
• Potential for loan defaults or extensions.
• Higher risk during cooling real estate markets.
• No ability to withdraw funds early once invested.

EquityMultiple: Best for Accredited Investors

Minimum Investment: $5,000 — $30,000 depending on investment

Learn more — EquityMultiple

EquityMultiple is a platform that appeals to accredited investors seeking institutional-quality commercial real estate investment opportunities. Known for its rigorous due diligence process, EquityMultiple accepts less than 5% of the deals it evaluates, focusing on high-quality investments with experienced sponsors. Founded in 2015, the platform’s investors have been involved in more than $4 billion in commercial real estate deals.

The platform offers three main investment types: equity, preferred equity, and senior debt, each with distinct risk-return profiles. These are organized into three strategies — “Grow” for long-term appreciation (typically 3–7 years), “Earn” for income generation (1–3 years), and “Keep” (their Alpine Note product) for shorter-term investments of 3–9 months — allowing investors to build a diversified real estate portfolio within one platform. Projected returns are provided for each investment type, with Alpine Notes offering fixed yields ranging from 6–7.4% depending on term length, income-focused “Earn” investments targeting 8–12% returns, and growth-oriented opportunities aiming for higher IRRs.

Investment minimums are higher compared to some platforms, typically $5,000 for Alpine Notes and $10,000-$30,000 for equity investments, reflecting the institutional quality of the offerings. The Ascent Income Fund, a yield-focused fund investing in first-mortgage loans, has a $20,000 minimum for existing investors and $5,000 for first-time investors.

EquityMultiple’s fee structure is straightforward, with most investments charging an annual fee between 0.5% and 1.5% (typically 1%) and a small annual administrative fee of $30-$70. Unlike some platforms that impose large upfront fees, EquityMultiple’s fees are designed to align their interests with those of investors, earning revenue when investors succeed.

Pros:

• Institutional-quality commercial real estate investments.
• Rigorous due diligence process (only 5% of deals make it through).
• Various investment structures (equity, preferred equity, debt).
• Range of investment timeframes from 3 months to 7+ years.
• Strong track record of performance.
• Excellent investor reporting and transparency.
• Good customer support via phone, email and live chat.

Cons:

• Only available to accredited investors.
• Higher minimum investments.
• Less liquidity than some alternatives.
• Limited to commercial real estate only.
• No mobile app for monitoring investments.
• Company not yet profitable according to some reports.

How to Choose the Best Online Real Estate Investing Platform:

Now comes the tough part, choosing the right online real estate investing platform. This can definitely be overwhelming but focusing on key factors can help simplify the process. First, I like to consider the platform’s accessibility; some are only for accredited investors and real estate investors while others are open to all or have a broader range of options. Knowing your investor status can help narrow your choices.

Next up, evaluate the platform’s diligence process. Platforms that thoroughly vet deals and accept only a small fraction of evaluated investments like EquityMultiple are more likely to offer high quality opportunities.

Then, take a look at the platform's customer service. A knowledgeable and responsive service team can make a big difference in your investment experience. Lastly, look at the leadership team to ensure they have industry expertise and a proven track record.

Considering these factors will help you choose a platform that aligns with your investment goals and risk tolerance.

What to Look for in a Real Estate Investing Platform

When evaluating real estate investing platforms consider the following:

• Cost — look beyond initial fees and consider ongoing expenses for updates and additional services as these can eat into your return.
• Types of investment opportunities — do they offer LP equity and senior debt, do they offer funds, are there opportunities to tailor make your own portfolio?
• Functionality and user-friendliness — easy navigation, integration options, scalability and customer support are very important in the user experience.
• Security — how do they protect your investments and personal information.

Conclusion

Over the past few years, the real estate investing landscape has been transformed by online platforms making it more accessible and diverse. Each platform I’ve done an overview of here has its own unique features for different needs / objectives. Arrived and Fundrise are for non-accredited investors with low entry barrier and user-friendly approach. Yieldstreet is for more seasoned investors with access to alternative asset classes. Groundfloor is good for short-term investments with high potential returns and EquityMultiple is for accredited investors seeking institutional-grade opportunities. When choosing a platform consider accessibility, the due diligence process, and customer service.

By understanding what to look for and how to evaluate each platform you can make better decisions for your real estate investing journey. Whether you’re an experienced investor or just starting out these platforms offer many opportunities to assist in diversifying and growing your portfolio.

FAQs

What is the minimum investment for Fundrise?

$10 is the minimum investment for Fundrise.

Are all these platforms open to non-accredited investors?

Not all platforms are open to non-accredited investors; Arrived, Fundrise, and Groundfloor are but EquityMultiple is limited to accredited investors.

Why is Yieldstreet good for alternative asset classes?

Yieldstreet is good for alternative asset classes because of its diverse investment options in private credit, venture capital and real estate so investors can create a customized portfolio that meets their financial goals.

How does Groundfloor do short-term investments?

Groundfloor does short-term investments by focusing on real estate debt opportunities with 30 day to 36-month durations and historically higher returns. This allows investors to take advantage of quicker turnaround times in the real estate market.

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always conduct your own research and consult with qualified professionals before making investment decisions.